“It was at a restaurant, not my home,” Nikki said when the men had quieted enough. “And I think he just wanted to blame someone for his mistakes in life.”
Cause—you destroyed me. Effect—now I’m going to destroy you. Nikki remembered his words clearly. So get ready, Nikki. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
But that didn’t mean she was going to repeat them. Andrew Miller had changed her life as well as Mark’s, Oliver’s and Jonathan’s in such a horrible and fantastic way that bringing up what the man really said, which she still believed to be an aggressive form of venting, would slice through the happiness they had all managed to find in the last few years. Andrew was a sore reminder of their collective tragic mistake. Nikki didn’t want them to fully revisit that by putting them up close and personal with the man. Which she knew would happen if she told her friends and employees about what he’d really said.
“And then he just left?” Oliver asked, voice noticeably deeper. Nikki fixed Jackson with a pointed stare as she answered.
“Yes,” she said. “No other incidents.”
Jackson’s eyes, some intangible coloring between gray and blue, stayed with her as his mouth remained shut. She also didn’t want the men to know about her car. There were other things to worry about now.
“But the real reason why I called,” Nikki said, swinging her attention back to Jonathan and the paper he held, “is what I received this morning attached to a box of chocolates.”
* * *
“A NOTE WITH three addresses on it,” Nikki started. Jackson pushed off the wall, standing at full attention. “Oliver, Mark, I sent you an email before I came in here with the information.” There was silence as the two seemed to be opening up their emails through their phones or laptops. Once they confirmed they were looking at the addresses, Nikki continued. “These addresses are the homes of one family. A mother in Colorado, her daughter in Wisconsin and her son in Arkansas.”
“A family?” Jonathan repeated. “Whose? And why would someone send this to you?”
Jackson watched as an already perfect-postured Nikki straightened even more so. Once again she started to form a fist but caught herself. She let her hand fall back to her side. Whoever the family was, she was invested in them. Nikki cleared her throat and when she answered she didn’t meet anyone’s eyes. Not even his.
“Morgan Avery’s.”
There was a lot of information passing around that Jackson’s lack of experience with the group was hindering him from understanding. However, he didn’t need to be “besties” with them to know that Morgan Avery meant something big to them. Even Kelli managed a gasp. He was sure that soon the trainer and the two on speakerphone would start their yelling at the same time, but Nikki found her voice before them.
“After what happened I kept tabs on her immediate family to make sure they were...” Nikki seemed at a loss for words for the first time since he’d met her. She shook her head slightly. “I contacted Elaine, Morgan’s mother, and asked if she’d been having trouble with anyone lately. She admitted to getting a few hang-up calls within the last month. Ones that didn’t show up on her caller ID. Her daughter, Melanie, and son, Jared, have also received similar calls in the last few weeks. Normally, I wouldn’t worry, but—”
“But someone sent you the addresses for a reason,” Jonathan interrupted.
Nikki nodded.
“It was Andrew,” Mark piped in. “It had to be him. Otherwise that’s a big heaping sack of coincidences.”
“I agree, Nik. The timing is too perfect,” Kelli piggybacked on her husband’s sentiment.
“But why would Andrew be sending you information on the Avery family of all people?” Oliver asked.
“Maybe to remind me of what happened, maybe just to make me nervous, heck, maybe to show that he’s still crafty?” Nikki said, demeanor cracking slightly. She was clearly frustrated.
Jackson wanted to ask who this Andrew was and why the Averys were so important, but he kept his mouth shut. He resolved to ask in private, not wanting to stop what the Orion boss and employees were working through.
“Either way,” Nikki said. “I want to cover all my bases. Mark, I’m pulling you from your current contract and putting Robert in charge. Then I’d like you to go to Colorado to check on Elaine. Jonathan and Oliver, I know you aren’t bodyguards anymore, but I’d like you two to go keep an eye on Morgan’s brother and sister just until we see if the other shoe drops, so to speak.”
Jonathan nodded, surprising Jackson, since, like Nikki said, he wasn’t a bodyguard.
“You can take Jackson along as a training exercise,” Nikki added, further surprising him.
“But then you’d be alone here,” Jackson said without missing a beat. “That doesn’t seem smart.”
Nikki rounded on him, nostrils flared slightly.
“Listen—” she began, but was cut off by Mark.
“He’s right, Nikki. You need to keep at least one bodyguard at Orion.”
“May I remind you he’s a new recruit and hasn’t been trained yet?” Nikki ventured.
Jackson almost told them right then and there about her car, but Jonathan swooped in.
“I’m not going until you agree to let him stay,” he said, arms crossing over his chest to show he meant business. The two on speaker backed him up with the same demand. Their closeness, Nikki, Jonathan, Oliver and Mark’s, was starting to show. Jackson wondered what had created the bond. And then wondered if Nikki had ever been intimate with one of them. Jealousy sprang up again. He tried to ignore it as Nikki let out a long breath.
“Fine,” she agreed. “Now, Kelli and I are going to go make travel arrangements and then we’ll contact you with your information. Just remember, this isn’t a contract. This is a courtesy visit, so please try not to alarm them.” Nikki sobered. “We owe them at least that.”
Jackson couldn’t help it.
“Why?” he asked the room.
And the room promptly ignored him.
The meeting broke up as they all went about their separate tasks. Jackson returned to the gym, where he finished his workout, taking out some new frustration at being left with little to no information. His fists thrummed, his legs vibrated and his head was filled with made-up explanations of what was going on. Orion was shaping up to be more complicated than he would have guessed.
“Hey, can I grab a second?”
Jackson turned as Jonathan sidled into the gym, closing the door behind him. The way he looked back at the door tipped off Jackson that whatever the trainer was about to tell him would somehow tick off the boss. Which made him nearly lean in closer as the man spoke. “I know you signed up for this yesterday and don’t have any formal training or, really, even know what’s going on, but I’m going to tell you one indisputable fact that Nikki isn’t admitting out loud. Hate is a very powerful motivator, wouldn’t you say?”
Jackson nodded, instantly jumping into his own past before Jonathan continued.
“Andrew Miller has made no issue in the past of showing that he hates Nikki. So, while I’m gone I need you to do me a favor.”
Jackson leaned in, already knowing he’d say yes to whatever it was, since the trainer had stuck his neck out for him. Plus, he really didn’t like the sound of Andrew.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Protect Nikki,” Jonathan said. “No matter what it takes.”
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